NATS Chat Transcript Archive

NATS Chats, sponsored by Inside View Press, are live online real-time discussions for voice teachers and singers. Topics vary widely and have included classical and non-classical vocal technique, vocal repertoire, teaching strategies, business strategies for private studio teachers, resources for university teachers, and arts advocacy. Guests have included prominent teachers, authors, composers, and artists. These are recordings and abridged transcripts from previous discussions:

2018-19:

• “The Evolving Singing Voice: Changes Across the Lifespan” with guest Karen Brunssen. Oct. 7, 2018
  Co-sponsored by The Voice Foundation
• Independent Studio Business: Part III ~ “Finding Them and Keeping Them: Studio Marketing and Student Retention" with Cynthia Vaughn, Kelli Barham, and Christin Coffee Rondeau,  Nov. 11, 2018
• "Bel Canto Can Belto–Cross Training for the 21st Century Singer" with Mary Saunders Barton and Norman Spivey
• “Getting the Twang of it: Physiologic, Acoustic, and Perceptual Characteristics" with Kerrie Obert and Chadley Ballantyne, Jan. 13, 2019 
• “Mindful Voice: How Cognitive Science Informs Voice Teaching” with Lynn Helding and Lynn Maxfield, Feb. 10, 2019 
• “The Special Psychoacoustics of the Singing Voice” with Ian Howell, March 10, 2019 
• "The more things change, the more they stay the same: some thoughts on (my) current pedagogic practice" with Scott McCoy, April 14, 2019
• "A Conversation with Christine Brewer," May 5, 2019

2017-18:

• "Putting it Together: Bit by bit...Day by Day...Week by Week...Year by Year…" with guest Joan Lader, honorary Tony Award winner and renowned Broadway voice teacher. Oct. 8, 2017
• "Growing or Redefining Your Independent Voice Studio as a Small Business, Part 2" with guests Cynthia Vaughn, Michelle Markwart Deveaux, and Nate Plummer. Nov. 12, 2017
• "Transgender Voices: What Voice Teachers Need to Know" with guests Emerald Lessley, DMA; Sandy Hirsch, MS, CCC-SLP, and Liz Jackson Hearns, MM. Co-sponsored by The Voice Foundation. Dec. 10, 2017
• “Singing and Teaching Singing: A Holistic Approach to Classical Voice” with guest Janice Chapman. January 21, 2018
• “Care of the Professional Voice” with laryngologist Al Merati, MD, and Met Opera singer Michaela Martens, co-moderated by Margaret Baroody. Feb. 11, 2018
• "Teaching Very Young Singers" with guest Shannon Coates, March 11, 2018
• “The Hole in the Sky” with guest John Nix, April 8, 2018
• “The Broad Spectrum of CCM” with Melissa Cross, Trineice Robinson-Martin, and Mike Ruckles

2016-17:

• "Performance Success: An Olympic Performance Psychologist Teaches Performing Artists How to Win" with guest Don Greene, Ph.D.- Oct. 9, 2016
• "The Business of Singing: The Importance of Entrepreneurship for Today's Artist” with guest Cindy Sadler - Nov. 13, 2016 
•  "The Aging Voice" with guests Dr. Michael Johns, laryngologist, and Peggy Baroody - Dec. 11, 2016
• "Kinesthetics to Training the Vocal Athlete" with guests Wendy LeBourgne and Marci Rosenberg - Jan. 15, 2017
• “How Much Science Do We Really Need to Know?" with guest Dr. Scott McCoy - Feb. 12, 2017. PowerPoint slides
• "Starting and Running Your Independent Voice Studio as a Small Business" with guest Cynthia Vaughn - March 19, 2017. Handouts: Starting and Growing Your Studio, Business Resources
• "Transitioning from Classical to CCM Vocal Styles" with guest Lisa Popeil - April 9, 2017. Handout: Lisa Popeil - Voiceworks®
• Student NATS --  SNATS Chat: "NOT Lost in Translation: Adapting Classical Technique to Musical Theatre Styles” with guest Lynn Helding - April 23, 2017
• "Teaching the Young (and Very Young) Performer" with guest Robert Edwin - May 21, 2017

2015-16:

• Audition Recordings: Considerations for YAP and Academic Programs - Oct. 11, 2015
• Sheri Sanders - Rock the audition - Nov. 8, 2015 (Transcript not available)
• Young Artist Programs-DVD and CD applications:  Progress or Punishment? With panelists Sheri Greenwald (Merola), Ann Baltz (OperaWorks) - Dec. 13, 2015 (Transcript not available)
• Ken Bozeman - The Vocal Acoustic Landscape: How to Solve the Challenges Singers Face Across Range - Jan. 10, 2016
• The Voice Team vs. the Vocal Injury: Who does what, when, where and why. A panel of Margaret (Peggy) Baroody, Sharon Radionoff and Karen Wicklund - Feb. 7, 2016
• A Conversation with Dolora Zajick co-sponsored with The Voice Foundation - March 13, 2016
• Hormones and the Voice: Dr. Jean Abitbol, co-sponsored by The Voice Foundation - April 10, 2016
• Dr. Scott McCoy and Inside View Press - May 15, 2016 (Transcript not available)

2014-15:

• Scott McCoy and staff of the OSU Swank Voice Laboratory - Oct. 19, 2014 - Pedagogic topics, ranging from acoustics and anatomy to teaching methods and repertoire selection
• Robert Sataloff - Nov. 9, 2014 - Performing Arts Medicine and Care of the Professional Voice
• Matt Hoch - Dec. 14, 2014 - Reconciling Vocal Terminology in the 21st Century: The Challenges of Assembling A Dictionary for the Modern Singer
• Teachers Chat - Jan. 11, 2015 - The State of the Nation: aka "The State of NATS"
• Melissa Cross - Feb. 8, 2015 - Heavy Metal: Overtone NOT Overuse! 
• Andrew Lippa - March 15, 2015 - How do you 'be yourself' when everyone's telling you what to do?
• Matt Edwards - April 12, 2015 - Creating Perfection: Audio Technology and the Singer 
• Teachers Chat - May 10, 2015 - Teachers Chat with David Meyer, Julia Bentley, Edrie Meens Weekly and Allen Henderson 

2013-14:

• Teachers Chat - May 12, 2014 - Let's Chat - Problematic Pedagogical or Personality Challenges
• Ann Baltz - April 14, 2014 - "A Holistic Approach to Training the Complete Singing-Actor"
• Dr. Albert Merati - March 10, 2014 - "The Aging Voice with Dr. Albert Merati, world-leading laryngologist"
• David Sabella-Mills - Feb. 17, 2014 - "Technology and the 21st Century Voice Studio"
• Teachers Chat - Dec. 9, 2013 - "The interpersonal dynamic between singing teacher and student: The good, the bad and the out of tune?"
• Kelli O'Hara - Nov. 18, 2013 - "'Crossing Over' with broadway star Kelli O'Hara"
• Stephen Austin - Oct. 14, 2013: "Chiaroscuro: Out of the darkness and into the bright!"

2012-13:

• Teachers Chat - May 5, 2013: "Functional vs. Traditional Teaching Styles"
• Lynn Helding - April 7, 2013: "Teaching in the Age of American Idol: The Narcissism Epidemic"
• David Ostwald - March 10, 2013: "The Character's Breath" - David is author of Acting for Singers: Creating Believable Singing Characters"
• Scott McCoy - Feb. 10, 2013: Everything you ever wanted to know about formants
• Teacher's Chat - Dec. 3, 2012: Technology in the voice studio
• Robert Edwin - Nov. 4, 2012:  'Mr. Soprano and Ms. Tenor' - Gender-neutral voice pedagogy
• Vinson Cole - Oct. 7, 2012:  NATS Chat with acclaimed tenor Vinson Cole

2011-12:

• Dr. John Nix - March 11, 2012:  Vibrato: There's a Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On!
• Dr. Katherine Verdolini - Jan. 29, 2012:  The Psychology of the Mind and Larynx
• Teachers Talk - Dec. 4, 2011 - Music Theater and Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM)
• Dr. Albert Merati - Nov. 6, 2011 - Aging of the Voice
• Dr. Ingo Titze - Oct. 2, 2011 - NATS Chat with Dr. Ingo Titze

OTHER:

• Dean Williamson - Jan. 30, 2011 - NATS Chat with Dean Williamson
• James Brody - Nov. 7, 2010 - NATS Chat with James Brody
• Edrie Means-Weekly - April 6, 2008 - NATS Chat with Edrie Means-Weekly
• Christine O'Mealley - June 16, 2002 - How do you motivate your students? Pom-poms or whips?